Marie Elizabeth Gibbs was born Oct. 19, 1932, in Stowe, Vt., to Kenneth and Martha Thurston Gibbs. She graduated from Waterbury (Vt.) High School in 1950.

She married Vern Ray Russell June 2, 1951, in Virginia. They lived in Waterbury then moved to Custer, Wash., in 1959. They later divorced, and she and her youngest six children moved back to Waterbury, Vt.

On March 9, 1973, she married Lawrence “Bucky” Charland. They later divorced. While in Vermont, she worked at the National Life Insurance Co. In 1980, she moved to Seattle, Wash., where she was employed by Ward’s Cove Packing Co. for many years. She eventually retired to Custer in 1993 and in 1998 developed Alzheimer’s disease and began living in assisted care facilities.

She loved dancing several times a week at the local senior center. She collected music boxes and loved her dogs, Samantha and Peaches. When she was in good health, she enjoyed taking her older grandchildren on trips.

She was preceded in death by her parents; infant brother, Warner; ex-husbands, Vern Russell and Lawrence Charland; and a sister, Lorraine Sarabia.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Ferndale Senior Center, 1999 Cherry St., Ferndale, WA 98248; Whatcom County Humane Society, 1661 Baker Creek Place, Bellingham, WA 98226; or a charity of choice.

The family will host a memorial service June 30 during a family reunion in Ferndale, Wash. Moles Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. She has been cremated and will be interred in Enterprise Cemetery in Ferndale.